Sliding door and structure containing the same



April 28, 1925. 1,535,127

J. F. MIDDLEDITH SLIDING DOOR AND STRUCTURE CONTAINING THE SAME Filed July 8, 1924 2 Shees-Sheet 1 4 wie: ff

April 28, 1925.

J. F. MIDDLEDITH SLIDING DOOR AND STRUCTURE CONTAINING THE SAME Filed July 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES F. MIDDLEDITH, OF PLAINFTELD., NEW JERSEY, A-SSIGNOR TO THE J'. G. WILSON CORPORATION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGNIA.

SLIDING DOOR AND. STRUCTURE CONTAINNG TEE SAME.

Application filed July 8,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MIDDLEDITH, l

`Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sliding Doors and Structures Containing the Same, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates in general'to sliding doors of the type in which the door is arranged to slide'from closed position to an open position at an angle thereto by a. simultaneous sliding and rotating movement. Certain features of the invention relate to a substantially ireproof construction f wardrobes and similar structures embodying doors of this general type.

An important object of the invention is to provide in combination with a substantially fire-proof wardrobe or like structure one or more doors which will close the doorway snugly, and which will, nevertheless, slide between open and closed positions in a free, smooth, and easy manner in spite of the forces to which such doors are ordif narily subjected.

Another important object of this invention is to provide novel and improved guide means for a door of the class above referred to which will guide the door in a smooth and steady manner with very little friction through a path which occupies a relatively small space within the wardrobe or other structure to which the door is applied.

The invention aims particularly at the provision of a wardrobe for use in schools or similar public buildings which has a maximum amount of available room therein for the space occupied thereby, and which is of a sturdy and preferably substantially lire-proof construction, and at the provision of a sturdy door therein preferably of metallic construction which is hung and guided in such manner that the above stated y objects will be realized.'

Other purposes of the invention, together with the various features thereof will apear fromthe following description taken 1n connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a wardrobe embodylng the vvarious features of the invention;

1924. Serial No. 724,813.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sect-ion on the lino 4-4 in Fig. 6 showing the guiding and stabilizing means in detail.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a door hanger viewed from the right of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partly sectional view of the side wall and door shown in Fig. 4, as viewed from the'line 6 6 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged section of a rear corner of the wardrobe taken ou the same plane as Fig. 3;

The invention is shown as embodied in a wardrobe such as is especially adapted for use in schools or other public buildings. lt will be evident, however, that the invention may readily be used in connection With other structures, such as wash rooms, lockers, and the like in which the requirements as to free movement of the door and economical use of space are similar.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawing, the wardrobe comprises a,wooden 1base 10 (Fig. 4) covered with a floor 11 preferablyT of metallic construction, a pair of sides 13 and 14, and a back 15 (Figs. 2 ar.d3) and a top 16 (Fig. 1). The sides, back and top are preferably formed of metallic plates having overlapping angle plates set at the corners to cover edges, and angle plates at the bottom of the construction. These angle plates are fitted together and fastened to the floor in a manner which will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art. wardrobe is open to form a doorway which a pair of doors 19 and 20 are adapted to close. These doors are also preferably formed of metallic plates with bent over edges, and may, if desired, carry blackboards; mirrors, or other objects on their outer surfaces. In the wardrobe there may be provided one or more shelves 21, hooks 22,.umbrella racks 23, drip pans 24, and other necessarywor desirable holders for clothes or other articles. These may extend throughout the greater part of the space inside'the wardrobe because of the small amount of space required for the movement of the doors.

The door 19 is supported by means of a line 3--3 of The front of the l hanger 28 upon an arcuate track 25, which is fastened at its respective ends to an attachment 26 on the lintel of the doorway and vto an attachment 27 at the top of the side 13 of the wardrobe. This .hanger comprises, in the particular embodiment of the invention shown, a roller bearing slreave 3U turning on a shaft 31 held bythe sides of a saddle 32 extending under the track. The saddle 32 'is rotatably mounted on an attachment 33 on the door by means of a threaded pin 34 extending through an opening in a lug 35 on the attachment. The bottom or' the door is guided by a radial arm which is attached to the door by means of a pivot joint 42-and is pivoted upon a stud 44 in the floor 10. The pivot joint 4:2 should be directly below attachment 83 and the center of the stud 44 should be, as nearly as practicable in a line extending through the center of the arc tf the track 25 and perpendicular to thel plane of said track.

Thus it will be apparent that radial'arm 40 will guide the bottom of the door through a path similar to that through which the arcuate track guides the top of the door so that a steady, smooth, and easy movement is assured.

ln order to further stabilize the door'during its movement and effectively to prevent substantial vertical movement of the side margins thereof, or to limit said movement, there is provided a guide track attached to the side 13 preferably near its vertical center. and a stabilizing device attached to the bent over edge 51 `of the door 19 and movable along said track as the door is moved. The track 50 is biased slightly with relation to the side walll in the manner shown, so as to permit the door to bear against the inside of its jamb when closed and yet to be in position substantially perpendicular to its doorway when opened.

The stabilizing device 52 comprises, in its preferred form, a plate 54 affixed near the vertical center of the edge 51 of the door.-

and a plate 55 which is hinged by means of a pin 64 to plate 54, and on which arel fixedly mounted a. pair of shafts 56 extending over track 50. and a pair of shafts 57 extending under track 50. 0n each of shafts 56 is a sheave 58 adapted to roll along the top of track 50 and on each of shafts 57 is a sheave 59 adapted to roll along the bottom of the track. sheaves is securely fastened to plate 55 and as two of these sheaves are set against either side of the track 40; it will bel seen that there 1s provided stabilizing means which will effectively prevent any swaying of the door,

n nd vet will in no way oppose or retard the opening and closing movements thereof even if pressure is applied thereto tending to cause a'vertical movement of either of its edges. In other words, such vertical move- As the shaft of each of these fourV ing means without obstructing the normal operation of the door. For example, `if some one hangs on or leans against the doorA while opening or closing it, the stabilizing device will prevent the door from being swayed so as to stick against any adjacent members, such as the threshold or lintel of the doorway, and will at the same time permit a free opening or closing movement. This is particularly important in a fire retarding construction, such as shown, inasmuch as the doors must be made to fit snugly into their doorway so that even a slight vertical movement of either edge of the door is likely to cause an end of the door to strike the lintel or the threshold so that the door will stick. y

.It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, that the doors of thewardrobe are each suspended at substantially -the central point in their upper margins. lhus normally the whole weight of the door will be supported at this point. With the door supported in this manner the swinging arms 40 and the stabilizing means do not have tosupport any substantial part of the weight of the door under normal conditions but serve merely as guides-for the door. This manner of supporting and guiding the door enables the door to slide very freely and easily andl there is no liability that the door will jam or stick during its sliding movement.

lt is sometimes desirable to provide means to prevent the rattling of the stabilizing means. Such an anti-rattling means is shown in the drawing and consists ot a spring 63 spiralled about the pin 64 of the hinge joining plates 54 and and extending along the inner surfaces of these plates so as to tend to spread them apart. `thus causing the inner flanges of the sheaves to bear firmly against track 5() at all times.

Figures 2. 3 and 4 show a pair of tapered `guide blocks 65 and 66 fastened on side 13 near its top and bottom respectively. These blocks act in cooperation withh the other guiding means to obstruct horizontal movements of certain parts of the door out of their normal paths during the opening and closing movements of the door.

As shown in Figure 2. each of the doors of the wardrobe is held in closed position by means of a leaf spring indicated at 70 in said figure. .Each spring is, secured to one of the side walls and is arranged to engage the outer side edge` of the corresponding door when the door is closed. 4

The supporting. guiding. and. stabilizing means used in `connection with door 20 are similar to those which have been described in connectionwith door'19 and have been indicated in the drawings by similar reference numerals.

hazard is great not only because of its construction of lire retardmg material. but also because the doors are guided in such a way 4that they may be readily and quickly'moved Aeither to an open or a closedposition in which they do not project a substantial distance beyond the front of the wardrobe. rl`l1e importance of this feature of the invention when used in connection with school wardrobes and other structures, placed on passageways which must 'be kept clear in case of lire will be readilyl apparent.

The doors 19 may bev adjusted vertically or in the plane thereof by a suitable adjustment of the nuts 36. 'llo accommodate this adjustment each of the brackets 67, by which the arms 40 respectively are connected ,to the doors are adjustable vertically to the doors.

ATo this end the brackets 67 are Vprovided with slots 68 through which pass the bolts for securing the brackets to the doors.

lt should be understood that although the invention has been described in its preferred form andas embodied in a certain manner, it is limited neither to such form nor to such embodiment.

'Having thus described my invention, l claim- 1. lin combination with a door, an u per arcuate track, a hanger to hang the oor slidably on the track, a radial arm attached to the base ot the door and pivoted at a point in a line runnin through the center ot the arc of said trac and perpendicular to the plane thereof, a side track, and

stabilizing means on said side track to limit the vertical movement ot either side margin of the door while freely ermitting the movement'thereot along said arcuate track.

2. in combination with a door, an upper arcuate track, hanging' means for slidably hanging the door on the track, a radial arm attached to the 'base of the door and pivoted at a point in a line runing through the center ot said arc and perpendicular to the plane thereof, a horizontal track runnin in a direction perpendicular to the close position ot the door, and a stabilizer attached to one edge ot said door and comprising a pair ot sheaves movable along the top ot said horizontal track, and a along the bottom ot said horizontal track.

3. ln combination with a door, an upper arcuate track, a hanger to hang the door slidably onfthe trackfa radial arm attached to the base ot said door, and pivotally attached to the door over which the .door moves at a point beneath the center of said arc, stabilizing means attached to one edge ot the `door and freely movable along said side track under allconditions to revent substantial swaying movement ot said door upon said hanger, and guide blocks above y its closed position.

pair ot sheaves movable'.`

and below said side .track to assist the above named elements in confining said door to a predetermined path of movement.

4. ln combination with a building comprising sides, ends, and a back, each composed ot metallic plates and joined together to form a unitary structure, a door composed of a metallic plate with bent over edges, said door being movable by a simultaneous sliding and rotating movement from a position vacross the front of the wardrobe to a position along one of its sides, and guide means for the door comprising an upper arcuate track. a side track,and a radial arm extending from the base of the door and pivoted -on a stud in the door end of said structne'.

5. In combination with a structure comprising a floor, a doorway, and a side wall running backwardly trom said doorway, a door` means to guide said door from a position in said doorway to a position along said wall` stabilizing means to assure a tree movement ot the door between the threshold and the lintel of the doorway, and spring means on said wall to maintain said door in 6. lin combination with a structure comprising metallic ends, sides, and back. and an open front forming doorway, a pair of metallic doors fitting snugly across said doorway when closed, an arcuate track for cach door attached at its respective ends to the lintel ot said doorway and to the top of one ot said sides. a hanger Jfor each door comprising a sheave movable along the corresponding track, radial arms pivoted on the floor ends ot' the wardrobeand attached respectively to the lower ends ot the doors and means to assure the free movement ot the ends 'ot each door past the thresholds and the lintel of said doorway comprising horizontal track on each said sides` and an attachment on each of sa'd doors comprising a pair ot sheaves movable along the top ot said track. and a pair of sheaves movable along the bottom of said track.

'i'. ln .a structure of the class described having a doorway, a door mounted for conlbincd sliding and swinging-movement for opening and closing the doorway, means for suspending the door at a point in its upper margin for sliding movement, a swinging armv for guiding the 'lower portion of the door and anti-trictional means for preventing substantial angular swaying movement of the door'upon said suspending means.

8. ln a structure ot the class described having a doorway, a door mounted tor combined sliding 'and swinging movement to open and close the doorway, means tor suspending -the door at a point in its upper margin tor sliding movement so that substantially all of the weight ot the door is supported at said point. a swinging arm tor guiding the base of the door and a i, bined sliding and swinging movement to open and close the doorway, means for supporting the door for such movement, a swinging arm for guiding the base of the door, and stabilizing means for preventing vertical movement of the side edges of the door comprising a track and rollssecured to the door and engaging respectively the opposite sides of the track.

10. In a structure of the class described having adoorway, a door mounted for coinbined sliding and swinging movement to open and close the doorway, means for suspending the door at a point in its upper margin, a swinging arm for guiding the base of the door, and stabilizing means acting on the door at a point substantially midway between its upper and lower edges to prevent substantial angular movement of the door in either direction upon said suspending means.

11. In a structure of the class described, having a doorway, a door mounted for combined sliding and swinging movement to open and close the doorway, means for suspending the door` at a point in its upper margin, a swinging arm for guiding the base of the door, stabilizing means for preventing substantial angular swaying movement of the door upon said suspending means, and means by which the door may be adjusted in the plane thereon and in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of its sliding and swinging movement.

12. In a structure of the class described having a doorway` a door mounted for com- ,bined sliding and swinging movement to open and close the doorway, a track for guiding the door in the general direction of the lane of the doorway` means for suspending the door at a point in its upper margin to slide along said track, a swinging arm for guiding the base of the door, a secisma? p ond track for guidin the doorin a direction transverse to the oorway, and anti-fric tional means engaging opposite sides of the latter track for preventing substantial angular movement of the door in either direction upon said suspending means.

13. In a structure of the class described having a doorway, a door mounted for combined sliding and swinging movement to open and close the doorway, means for suspending the door at its upper margin for sliding movement, a swinging arm for guiding the base of the door and stabilizing devices for limiting angular swaying movement of the door upon said suspending means without interfering with the sliding movement of the door.

14. A wardrobe structure comprising sides, ends, and a back, and provided with a doorway at the front thereof, a door movable by a simultaneous'sliding and rotating movement `from a position across the doorway to aposition along one of the sides of the wardrobe, and guide means for the door comprising an upper arcuate track, a side track, means on the door for engaging the side track to stabilize the movement of the door, and a radial arm extending fromthe base of the door and pivoted to the body of the wardrobe.

15. A wardrobe structure comprising sides, ends, and a back,and provided with a doorway at the forward part thereof, a door movable by asimultaneous sliding and rotating movement from a position across the front of the wardrobe to a position along one of its sides, an upper track, ahanger secured to the door and engaging the track to slidably suspend the door for movement across the doorway, a swinging arm for guiding the base ofthe door, a side track, and means secured to the door and engaging the side track for guiding a side margin of the door and for stabilizing the movement of the door.

Signed at New York city this 26th day 95 of June, 1924.

. JAMES F. MIDDLEDITH. 

